Waterloo Gardens, Roath Brook Gardens and Roath Mill Gardens are located in the Roath area of Cardiff, to the immediate south-east of Roath Park (nprn 96548), forming - from east to west - a linear strip of public parkland bounded by public roads and housing estates, and with Roath Brook flowing through it.

Waterloo Gardens is bound by Waterloo Road to the west, Church Terrace to the east and Waterloo Gardens Road to the north. The main area of the park to the south of the brook is laid out to lawn, planted with trees, with some formal beds and with mixed shrub and flower beds around the perimeter. The path layout is little changed from that shown on the 1919 25 inch Ordnance Survey map. A small building (the caretaker’s shelter) is also shown on the 1919 map on the east side of the park and is a surviving feature of the park. Other examples can be found in other Cardiff parks including Grange Gardens (412152). Recent alterations to alleviate flooding (completed 2018) included the construction of flood walls, widening the stream channel and raising the pedestrian bridge leading to the entrance on the north side of the park. A new raised seating area with timber and stone rose pergola in Edwardian style was constructed, connecting the raised pedestrian bridge that spans the brook, with the park. The land for the gardens was given by Lord Tredegar in 1897 but laying out of the park was delayed until 1909-10. It was opened to the public by the Lord Mayor at an opening ceremony on 27th July 1910.

Roath Mill Gardens to the east lies on the opposite side of Blenheim Road, bounded by Westville Road on the north, Sandringham Road on the south and Waterloo Road on the east. The land was given to the Corporation by Lord Tredegar in 1906 and the park was officially opened on 23rd October 1912. The press report of the opening of the gardens notes a paddling pool, a rockery and 95 varieties of trees and shrubs. The paddling pool and rockery have since gone but the park still contains a wide variety of trees. The gardens here are more informal than Waterloo Gardens. The park is laid out to grass with informally planted trees, including several champion trees, and the path layout is much as shown on the 1920 25-inch Ordnance Survey map. The Roath Brook here is the former mill leat to Roath Mill (418731), the original brook was filled in and the water diverted into the leat. The south-east area of the park has undergone recent changes as a result of the flood alleviation works (completed in 2018). Following the works a piece of public artwork, a model of the former Roath Mill, was commissioned and located close to the brook to interpret this aspect of the park’s history.

Roath Brook Gardens is bounded on the east by Blenheim Road, on the north by Westville Road, and on the south by Sandringham Road. The park is laid out to grass with informally planted trees, including several champion trees, and it retains its path layout as shown on the 1920 25-inch Ordnance Survey map. The land for the gardens was given by Lord Tredegar in 1910, development delayed by the 1914-18 war, then opened in 1920 without ceremony.

Sources:
Cadw 2002: Register of Historic Parks and Gardens, Glamorgan (ref: PGW(Gm)29(CDF)).
Ordnance Survey third edition 25-inch map: sheet Glamorgan XLIII.7 (1920).

RCAHMW, 18 July 2022

Site Record

Waterloo Gardens, Roath Mill Gardens and Roath Brook Gardens, Cardiff